Member Monday Featuring Carol Vipperman
Every Monday, we bring a new member to the spotlight, and this week’s member is none other than Seattle, Washington photographer—Carol Vipperman.
As you scroll through, you’ll probably be asking yourself, as we did— “Can you believe these shots?!”.
Dive into our recent conversation with featured KelbyOne member, Carol Vipperman!
About the Photographer:
- Hometown: Seattle, WA
- Years in Photography: 13
- Years as a KO Member: less than 1 year
About the Photo:
- Title: Sitting Pretty
- Location: Seattle, WA
- Any additional description of the photograph: I enjoy taking photos in my neighborhood. This Nigella flower is part of a neighbor’s wonderful garden that I walk by daily. It always makes me smile.
- Gear/Software Used: Canon EOS R, Lensbaby Velvet 56 lens, edited in Lightroom.
Describe your creative style in 3 words.
Explore, Inspire, Experiment
Tell us about a time you struggled or failed with your photography, and how you overcame it?
There were many times when I started photography when I failed, but perhaps the most important time was when I started to use Lensbaby lenses, which are manual, six years ago. At first, it was very frustrating because I couldn’t get the focus, especially with flowers. I was very discouraged and felt like I had reached my limit, but I persevered. I signed up for a few workshops and watched videos on macro photography. Slowly, I started to capture the images I wanted. I realized that this is just a part of the growing and learning process. Now I look back, and I can see my growth, but more importantly, I know that as a photographer, it is essential to not let the failures stop my efforts to improve.
What sparked your love of photography?
I started walking around my neighborhood with a small point-and-shoot camera as a way to get more exercise. I realized, with time, that I was happiest when I was looking for and capturing images that were interesting to me. Those walks spurred me to explore other forms of photography and to upgrade my gear. I am pleased to share that Lensbaby asked me to be one of their Ambassadors a year ago.
What’s your favorite class on KelbyOne and why?
There are so many that I enjoy, including those featuring Rick Sammon and Scott Kelby. Rick was one of my first workshop instructors, and I appreciate his teaching style and support. I just watched one by Scott on compositing, and he has such a great sense of humor. I found myself laughing throughout the course. I have watched several interviews with Jay Maisel, which were impactful. His advice to stay open to what is in front of you instead of having a specific goal when going out on a photo walk resonates with me and guides me in my work today.
Connect with Carol
You can find more of Carol’s work on Instagram, Facebook, and via this photography website!
Thank you for joining us for another Member Monday! If you haven’t yet, be sure to submit your photos for a chance to receive a Member Monday feature of your own.
